Forbidden Love

Heated Words and Heavy Hearts

Draco rolled his eyes as he leaned against the arm of the couch, staring at Abby and Mattheo. "Apart from embarrassingly getting caught, did you guys at least manage to get the Veritaserum?"

Mattheo's eyes narrowed, and his voice dripped with sarcasm. "What the fuck do you mean, 'embarrassingly caught,' huh, Malfoy? Because if I remember correctly, the last time you even stepped out of this common room, you got punched by Granger."

Draco's expression hardened, and he straightened up, clearly not amused. "Oh, shut it, Riddle. At least I don't make a habit of dragging everyone else down with me. What's your excuse this time? Couldn't handle a simple task?"

Mattheo's jaw clenched, and he took a step closer to Draco, their faces inches apart. "My excuse? At least I don't get schooled by a Mudblood every time I step into the corridor. Maybe you should focus on keeping your distance next time."

Draco sneered, his tone icy. "Watch your mouth, Riddle. You're treading on dangerous ground."

"Or what, Malfoy?" Mattheo shot back, his voice raising a notch. "You'll run to daddy? Or maybe Granger can defend you again, like the last time when she knocked you flat on your arse?"

Draco's fists clenched at his sides, his voice low and threatening. "Don't push me, Riddle."

Mattheo's lips curled into a smug smile, clearly enjoying the confrontation. "Oh, I'm just getting started. You know, it must sting, getting shown up by a Mudblood every time—"

"Don't call her that," Abby interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Mattheo turned his gaze to her, raising an eyebrow. "What's the problem, Abby? That's what she is, after all—a filthy Mudblood."

Abby's eyes flashed with anger. "I said, don't call her that. She's not just some label you can throw around whenever you feel like it."

Mattheo smirked, clearly not taking her seriously. "What, does it bother you, Black? I thought you were tougher than that."

"Stop calling her that, Riddle," Abby snapped, her voice trembling with fury. "Hermione's a better witch than you'll ever be, and you know it. You're just too much of a coward to admit it."

Mattheo's smirk faltered, his expression darkening. "A better witch? Don't make me laugh. She's nothing compared to me."

Abby stepped closer, her hand balling into a fist. "If you say that word one more time, I swear—"

"Mudblood," Mattheo said with a sneer, pushing her further.

Without thinking, Abby's hand shot out, and she slapped him hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the room, stunning everyone into silence. Mattheo's head snapped to the side, and he slowly turned back to face her, a look of shock and anger mixing on his face.

Abby's hand tingled with the force of the slap, but she didn't back down. "You might think you're untouchable, Mattheo, but you're not. And if you ever call her that again, you'll regret it."

The room was thick with tension as the two stared each other down, neither willing to back down. The rest of the group watched in stunned silence, unsure of what to do next.

Draco, for once, seemed at a loss for words, his eyes flickering between Abby and Mattheo. Pansy looked ready to step in, but she hesitated, clearly unsure of how to diffuse the situation.

Finally, Mattheo's lips curled into a dangerous smile, his voice low and cold. "You've got fire, Abby. I'll give you that. But don't think for a second that I'll forget this."

Abby's heart pounded in her chest, but she held her ground. "I don't care if you do. Just remember, I'm not afraid of you, Mattheo."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving the room in a stunned silence.

The tension in the room hung thick after Abby's bold move. For a few seconds, no one moved, no one spoke. The sound of Abby's footsteps retreating echoed in the silence.

Aiden was the first to snap out of the shock. "Abby, wait!" he called, rushing after her without a second thought. He glanced back at the others, his face a mix of concern and urgency, before sprinting out of the common room.

Pansy exchanged a quick look with Mellony and Charlotte. Without a word, the three of them hurried after Abby and Aiden, their footsteps quickening as they followed them out into the dark corridors of the castle.

Back in the common room, Blaise shook his head, breaking the heavy silence. "Okay... I guess we'll continue this tomorrow," he said, his voice dry but hinting at the unease that everyone felt.

Draco, still standing rigidly, glared at Mattheo one last time before turning away. He didn't say a word, but the tension between the two of them was palpable.

Mattheo, his cheek still stinging from the slap, watched as the others slowly dispersed, his mind reeling from what had just happened. His expression remained a mask of cold indifference, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something deeper—anger, confusion, maybe even regret. But whatever it was, he quickly pushed it down, turning away and retreating to his dorm without another word.

As the common room emptied out, it left behind an eerie stillness, the kind that settles in the wake of a storm. The group would reconvene tomorrow, but the events of tonight would undoubtedly linger in everyone's minds.